Be seen, Be safe!

Caroline King tells us how trying to keep track of her two boys in the park inspired her range of high-visibility clothing - GLOWKids and GLOWTribe....read more!

Where are you based?

Wiltshire

Family?

Two boys Charlie aged 10 and Tom aged 7

What is your background?

I'm a professional graphic designer with 20 years experience in design.

What inspired you to set up Glow-inc?

Glow-inc started as a simple idea that came to me whilst trying to keep and eye on both my children at our local park. Like most Mums, I worried about how to keep the children clearly in sight on family days out. And, like most kids, my boys refused point-blank to wear the 'seriously uncool' high visibility clothing that would help solve the problem.

Are your own children big fans of the products?

Yes, they are my inspiration and are constantly coming up with new ideas for me.

In the early days did you do all the work yourself?

Yes, you find talents you didn't know you had. For example designing a website and setting up the merchant banking online for a start to tackling Profit and loss accounts which to any creative is a task in itself!

Lots of Mums are interested in setting up fashion-related companies - either online or in the High Street - but don't know where to start - what research do you think is essential?

Research is absolutely vital with any product/idea you want to sell. You need to know which segment of your chosen market you will be positioned in. For example, we knew we had found a niche in the market and that GLOW-inc was placed within the children's safety and fashionwear because we created an everyday garment that was a wearable fashionable product. With this route, we positioned ourselves within the childrens fashion industry in a different segment of the same marketplace.

When did you know it was time to recruit an employee and what position did you recruit for first?

When demands were getting larger and I simply couldn't cope on my own. I had to start delegating work out because I found that filing and paper work ended up taking all my time and I was forever pushing the 'next range' of designs to the back of the list.

How did you manage Accounts and Tax at the start? Did you do it yourself?

I had absolutely no idea how to set up a business let alone manage the Accounts and Tax so I went along to Business Link as they offered up to 3 FREE hours professional advice for people like myself. I then enrolled on their 3 day course they run and started from the basics.

How did you finance the initial company?

With help from family and friends.

You are now selling Glow-inc clothing through your Glowmum network - how did you decide on this route?

Quite simply, because the main people who buy our range are mums themselves.

What was your first piece of marketing activity?

Our local MP James Gray was very helpful and he arranged a photo shoot at the local park with lots of Glowkids and gave us a wonderful endorsement which appeared in all the local papers.

What is the best free bit of PR or Marketing the company has had?

When The Marchioness of Lansdowne (owner of the Bowood Estate in Wiltshire) dressed all her Grandchildren in GLOW-inc t-shirts during the annual Crimestopper Event at her stately home because she was terrified of losing them in the 10,000 crowd. She liked them so much, she bought the range to sell in her shop.

What has been the biggest hurdle to you've had to overcome in terms of business success?

From growing organically and reaching a crossroad as to which route GLOW-inc should take for example, set up a retail outlet, franchise, sell directly to major department stores etc.

Did you have a good support network around you when you set up Glow-inc - in terms of childcare?

Yes, with the help of other mothers at school who looked after Charlie and Tom after school enabling me to have a 'full' days work!

How do you separate working time and family time?

You have to be VERY disciplined. Once you make your rules, you have to stick to them and separate work and family otherwise you end up becoming very guilty and frustrated, therefore achieving very little.

What has been the biggest benefit of you being self-employed to your family?

Being able to work around my children and family life and being my own boss but still maintaining contact with the commercial world too.

What is the best bit of business advice you've been given?

Stay focused and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Any advice for Mums thinking of starting in business?

However simple an ideal might look, if you really believe it can work, then give it a go.